Improved apparatus for preparing peat



H, Y. HIND.

Peat Machine.

Patented March 27, 1866.

No. 53,547.A

Wn essex."

mmm. n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HENRY YOULE HIND, OF FBEDERIGTON, NEW BRUNSWICK.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREPARING PEAT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,547, dated March 27,1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY YoULE HIND, of Fredericton, in the county ofYork, in the Province of New Brunswick, hareiinvented a new and usefulImprovement in Apparatus for Drying and Preparing Peat 5 and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, making part of this specification, in which-Figure l represents a vertical section of the drying apparatus andfurnace.

The object of my invention is to produce an apparatus which will rapidlydeprive freshlycnt peat of its moisture and renderit compact and readyfor immediate use as fuel; and the invention consists in subjecting thepeat to the operation of an air-pump, by which the water and moisture inthe peat is forcibly expressed.

A provision is also made for the admission of heated air in and throughthe mass of peat for the purpose of further expediting the dryingprocess.

Referring' to the drawings, A represents a cylinder of any convenientsize in which the peat is placed. This cylinder is composed of iron,which may belined with soft brick or other suitable absorbent materialcompactly arranged around the interior of the cylinder and supported ina stack of brick-work or stone, as represented by M.

The lower part of the cylinderAis provided withaconical or funnel shapedbottom, formed of two perforated metal plates, between which is placedone or more pieces or sheets of strong canvas or other suitable textilefabric. The lower edges of this funnel-shaped or false bottom rest upona ange, formed on the upper part of an ednction-pipe, E, secured to thecentral part of the bottom of the cylinder A, which pipe extends upwarda short distance into the cylinder. When necessary, the upper perforatedplate of the false bottom B may be removed to admit of the removal andrenewal ofthe interposed canvas.

The eduction-pipe E is of square form and extends a short distance belowthe cylinder A. Within the pipe is placed a series of metal plates orstrips, crossing each other at right angles, and with their edgesarranged vertically for the purpose of cutting the peat into rectangularlongitudinal pieces as it passes from the cylinder. Thelower end of theeduction-tube Eis provided with a valve or cover, to be opened when thepeat is to be discharged.

The space between the false bottom B and the sides and bottom of thecylinder forms a chamber, C, into which the water escapes from the peat,and into this chamber is introduced a pipe, I, communicating with anair-pump, arranged in any suitable manner and operated by any suitablepower. The operation of this pump exhausts the air from the chamber C,and consequently the air is forcedinto the mass of peat above byatmospheric pressure, thus expressing the water and moisture containedin the peat. The water maybe conducted from the chamber by pipes in anysuitable manner. The air-pump may be changed from an exhaust to a forcepump, when desirable, by altering the position ofthe valves.

On or near the inner sides of the cylinderA is arranged a series ofvertical perforated pipes, P, of iron or other suitable material,enveloped in stout canvas or other suitable material when foundnecessary, or the pipes may be filled with any proper absorbent orfiltering material. These pipes may be of cylindrical form and separatedfrom the sides of the cylinder, or theyniay be of rectangular shape andattached to the sides of the cylinder. The object of these pipes is toassist in exhausting the moisture contained in the peat in the cylinder.

Below the eduction-pipe is arranged an endless belt or apron, G, whichis used to carryr oft' the dried and cut peat as it is discharged fromthe cylinder to a drying-house or anyconvenient depository.

Should it become necessary to expedite the process of drying the peat, acurrent of heated air may be introduced into the main cylinder andpassed through the peat. As a means of effecting this, I place at theside or the cylinder a furnace or heating apparatus, represented by S,on the inner side of which is arranged a coil of pipe having one endcommunicating with the atmosphere, while the other end is carried up tothe top of the cylinder and inserted in a cap placed upon the top of thecylinder. This heatin g apparatus is designed to be used in case itbecomes necessary to provide i bottom B, with the interposed layer orijlling bf canvas, or its equivalent, as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination ot' the cylinder A, perforated bottom B, and chamberC, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the cylinder A, perforated bottom B, Chamber G,and the air-exhausting apparatus, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the cylinder A, provided with the false bottom B,an d air-space C, with the heating apparatus S, anditsconnecting-pipe'l, substantially as and for the purpose described.

HENRY YOULE HIND.

Witnesses H. L. HAZELToN, J. G. WHITE.

